Hoarding disorder: symptoms, diagnosis and management

Although hoarding behaviour has been
poorly understood by psychiatry in the past, research into hoarding
has dramatically increased in the last 10 years. Traditionally,
hoarding was considered a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD); in fact, the term ‘compulsive hoarding’ was widely used
until recently.

Hoarding disorder was introduced in DSM-5 in
2013 as a new diagnostic entity, separate from OCD. Hoarding
disorder is also likely to be included in the forthcoming
ICD-11.

Hoarding disorder has serious risk implications for the patients as
well as those around them, and the majority of individuals with the
condition do not see their behaviour as problematic and are not
motivated to seek help.

This module covers the clinical presentation of hoarding disorder,
as well as its epidemiology and aetiology. It also explains how to
carry out a diagnostic assessment and covers the current best
evidence-based strategies for treatment and multi-agency
management.